Speaking a stragne language on TV news
If you watch any television news at all, you may have picked up on what has become known as “Ing-lish.” It’s a form of news-speak that has gained widespread use in television broadcasting.
I’m referring to the proliferation of participles taking the place of verbs in TV news. In other words, eliminating verbs along with tenses: past, present and future. A couple of recent examples culled off the tube: Instead of saying, “high winds are making it difficult for commuters,” Ing-lish requires the omission of the verb — are — leaving us with “High Winds making it difficult for commuters.”
Listen closely to the next TV news program you watch and you’ll pick up on it.
A few more recent examples: “Two buses plowing into a crowd.” “City Council approving new zoning changes.”
I first ran into this a decade ago when a broadcast news consultant suggested we adopt the news-speak syntax at the news/ talk radio station I was running in Richmond, Va. The idea was, and one supposes, still is, to make what is being reported sound more immediate, to eliminate the past tense and resolve the conundrum of making something sound like it just happened when quite often it didn’t. I rejected the proposal out of hand because it tends to confuse the proper sequence of events and also because people don’t talk like that.
Strangely, broadcasters don’t seem to realize how bizarre the new style sounds. Fox Newscaster Shepherd Smith is quoted as calling it “people speak” and said “it’s about how I would tell the story if I were telling it to a friend on a street corner.” Mr. Smith must live in a strange place if his friends are saying things like “My car in the shop. The brakes needing relining.”
The PBS Newshour points to the need to shoehorn as many stories as possible into a brief space. But the new syntax doesn’t save any time. In fact, it often makes sentences longer. “Obama met with Putin” is one syllable shorter than “Obama meeting with Putin.”
Cable channels and networks were the first to adopt Ing-lish. Local TV stations were quick to follow. Now news-speak has spread like a disease. It even has a name: “ING Disease.” When I first started in broadcast journalism as an intern at NBC News, an editor presented me with a copy of William Strunk and E.B White’s bible of English usage, “The Elements of Style.” I must have worn out a dozen copies in the course of my career. TV newsrooms would do well to buy a few. It’s still very much in print and available at most bookstores including Amazon. It’s a whole lot cheaper than a news consultant and there’s an added benefit: you’ll sound like you actually know how to communicate the way real people do.
John Harding
Kinston
Obama in conflict with natural law
Two thousand years before Columbus discovered America, the Greeks had measured the circumference and diameter of the earth within 5 feet. The Pythagorean Theory, the circulatory system, all conformed to natural law and manifested eternal truths. Perhaps the Gospel of John best describes natural law: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”
Homer introduces hubris into natural law governing human behavior when Odysseus exacts revenge in the Odyssey. Hubris connotes more than mere arrogance; hubris means “becoming like the gods.” The ancient Greeks would view the five-day weather forecast as hubristic.
In this light, the president’s inaugural address was chilling. Not only does the president intend to control the economy, he also intends to control the climate, placing himself squarely in conflict with natural law. Intoxicated with his political victory and enchanted with his myopic vision, Obama has truly ascended into a spiritual realm traditionally reserved for the saints.
Trumpeted by his Marxist legions, he ignores the lessons of ancient and modern Greece, foreboding a legacy history will surely record as Before Obama and After Obama.
Joe Exum
Snow Hill
Superintendent acts with parents in mind
I would like to thank Dr. (Steve) Mazingo for his response to the severe weather threat recently. His decision made on Thursday concerning early closing on Friday gave parents ample time to make arrangements for their children’s early dismissal. The children were at school long enough on Friday to be counted present the entire day and also able to have lunch.
The children, bus drivers and staff all had time to get home safely before the weather became hazardous. I have four grandchildren in the Lenoir County Schools and I am grateful to know we have a superintendent who is concerned and puts safety first.
No one can predict or control weather systems perfectly but we are fortunate to have someone who has enough foresight to respond and put our children’s safety first
Gail Jarman
Kinston
Too much taxpayer money going overseas
Concerning the amount a widow of World War II gets, I spend over $6,000 a year on my health. My husband spent three years in the service, 2½ overseas (1942-1945) and came back with bad health. I get only $313 per month, which is a disgrace, from the Veterans Administration.
When he got his separation papers, they gave him $128 to get home with. I met him in Fayetteville. I don’t suggest anyone join the services. Those people overseas should take care of their people, and we take care of the real Americans.
Too much money is spent on nonsense things and the veterans and widows and children are left out. When President Ronald Regan was president, I had better times and a check to help me.
Ida Jackson
Kinston
'Breakfast on Boat' feeds preservation
“Breakfast on the Boat” was held on Feb. 16 and was a hit! I want to thank all the patrons that came out on that cold Saturday morning and on board our warm vessel, the CSS Neuse II. The food was fantastic thanks to David Mooring and his crew of cooks along with Linda Mooring, Michele Nix and the other volunteers that made this event possible.
The coffee, provided by Christopher’s Restaurant, was outstanding, as well as the biscuits provided by Lovick’s Cafe. We served over 125 patrons that morning and look forward to the next event. Though 125 is a respectable number, we hope more folks will come out next time and support this worthwhile project.
The CSS Neuse II is the only full-scale replica of a iron clad war vessel from the Civil War era. Our goal is to provide factual educational opportunities for the general public by offering a vessel to train re-enactors and other preservation groups for the advocacy of historical preservation. We are open each Saturday for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. Appointments may be made by calling 252-560-2150 or visiting www.cssneuseii.org.
John C. Nix, President
CSS Neuse Foundation
Kinston